4 Ways to Create a Healthy Home

A happy home is a healthy home, or so the saying goes. However, you need more than love and cherished memories to make a home healthy. The four tips below can help you transform your home into the happy, healthy haven you and your family deserve.

Add Indoor Plants

Gerbera daisies can remove the trichloroethylene that comes home with your dry cleaning and the benzene emitted by ink. Snake plants filter formaldehyde — a harsh chemical found in many household cleaners, toilet paper, tissues, and personal care items — from the air. Aloe vera, chrysanthemums, and azaleas are also effective chemical killers.

Introduce an Air Purifier

An air purifier is another effective addition for improving indoor air quality. These devices remove contaminants and pollutants from the atmosphere, including pollen, pet dander, and dust mites, to help you and your family members breathe easier in the home.

Not all air filters are the same. Look for a high-quality air purifier with an enhanced HEPA filter for capturing viruses or a sterilization element that kills pathogens. These high-end features go further to improve your family’s health. Make sure you also check the air volume capacity to make sure that your air purifier is powerful enough for your intended room’s size.

Increase Natural Light

Natural light has astounding effects on the body. Natural light inspires the body’s production of vitamins B and D, and red and white blood cells. Sunlight is like nature’s disinfectant, killing germs and bacteria throughout your home. When you expose yourself to natural light, you’ll enjoy better circulation, enhanced digestion, and a clearer complexion. Studies also show that people heal faster in rooms with abundant natural light.

Natural light is also important for mental health. Sunlight, in fact, boosts the body’s production of feel-good endorphins and serotonin, a chemical which makes us feel happier and more energetic.

You can take several steps to fill your rooms with more natural light. Keep the curtains drawn back and shades open during daylight hours. Watch your furniture placement, as some pieces can block natural light. Hang wall mirrors opposite windows to diffuse light throughout your rooms. Skylights are also worth considering in dark rooms.

Use Eco-Friendly Products Inside and Outside the Home

Browse through the cleaning and garden care aisles of home improvement centers and you’ll see a variety of products filled with chemical concoctions. These products can take a serious toll on your health. Instead, look to more eco-friendly alternatives. You can find eco-friendly commercial cleaners and lawn care products, or you can consider making your own. Abrasive baking soda, acidic vinegar and lemon juice, and powerful essential oils make excellent cleaning agents. A mix of Epsom salts and ammonia makes a great lawn fertilizer, while undiluted vinegar is powerful enough to kill weeds.

You don’t need to spend much money or take too much time to enjoy the benefits of a healthy home. Make the changes listed above to keep coughs, sniffles, and other health complaints at bay.

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